Lijiang Travel Tips - by travel authority Howard Hillman

Lijiang tips & insights

Travel pointers
on Lijiang

Altitude sickness

The higher the elevation, the thinner its air. Until your respiratory

and circulatory systems adjust to a high elevation, your body suffers to some degree from oxygen deprivation. Altitude sickness can result. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and headaches - and difficulty in catching your breath when, for example, walking up steps.

The best defense is to not to go suddenly from one altitude to a much higher one. Do your upward journeys in stages so your lungs can more readily adapt to thinner air.

I recommend that you do not travel from a low-altitude city (such as Beijing or Xian) to Lijiang on the same day. Instead, spend at least one full day in Kunming to acclimate your body to its relatively thin air (spend the time visiting the nearby Stone Forest, a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner). This will help prepare your body for the even thinner air in Lijiang. Stay there for at least a day or two before heading to Zhongdian or Deqin, where the air is even more rarified.

Best months to visit

April and October are the two most ideal months in Lijiang. The temperatures are pleasant and it doesn't rain as often.

Least desirable months

It rains a lot in July and August. That's important to know because heavy rains can trigger rock and mud slides, which can block roads. This can cause long travel delays or even cancelled plans (such as your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge).

January and February are not superlative months either because of wintry temperatures.

Busy holiday periods

Unless you have firm hotel reservations, skip these ultra-popular Chinese holiday periods (or you may end up without a room):

Spring Festival
This is the Lunar New Year celebration. Its start date varies from year to year, anywhere from mid-January to mid-February.

May Day
Occurs during the first two weeks in May.

National Day
Takes place in the first two weeks in October.

Cable car attire

Wear warm clothes. It's freezing where you'll be going (a lookout near the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Winter parkas can be rented before you board the cable car gondolas. The same is true for oxygen bottles, for those who may need one.

Cable car timing

To avoid long, time-consuming lines waiting to board the gondolas, go early or late in the day. But before leaving Lijiang for the ride, find out if the high-elevation viewing platforms are expected to be shrouded in clouds when you'll be there. If so, you won't see much, including the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.

New town

The large new section of town mainly consists of nondescript contemporary buildings. It is of limited sightseeing interest to visitors.

Getting lost in old town

It's easy to get lost in Lijiang Ancient Town because of its labyrinth of meandering passageways. But that's part of the enjoyment because you will discover picturesque alleys that you would not have seen otherwise.

Photo taking

For classic shots of the lanes of Lijiang Ancient Town, arrive before 8 a.m. Later, hoards of tourists jam the narrow passages, obstructing your camera's view.

To capture Lijiang's picturesque sea of rooftops, go to the top of Chieftain Mu's Palace.

Water system

Lijiang still uses a sophisticated water supply system that was built centuries ago.

Singing competition

Walk through the Ancient Town's bar area between 7:30 to 11 p.m for a fun, lively experience. Bar patrons sing loudly, then challenge those in the bar immediately across the narrow canal to try to outsing them in energy and volume. This spirited challenge can ping pong back and forth seemingly forever.

Shop prices

Souvenir prices tend to rise the closer you get to Sifang Square. And remember, always negotiate. You should be able to lower the initial price by 30%, sometimes more.

Restaurants

The highest concentration of interesting restaurants can be found on the streets near Sifang Square.

Hotels

Most hotels are in the new section of Lijiang. However, there are some small hotels and guest houses within the old town.

Ethnic minorities

Lijiang and environs are inhabited by several ethnic nationalities with interesting cultures. They include the Naxi, which have the largest population. The best way to see their genuine lifestyles is visiting their outlying villages, farms and rangelands.

Naxi - a woman's world

Women dominate the Naxi culture. Most of the decisions and property ownership are their rights, by long tradition.